In the green North
of Cape Verde
Individual Hiking Tour
São Nicolau, São Vicente, Santo Antão
Experience the remote beauties of Cape Verde on foot! Here we combine the natural paradises of São Nicolau and Santo Antão. For four days, hike on the touristically almost untouched island of São Nicolau with the colonial small town of Ribeira Brava. Paths through the nature park past thatched houses, sugar cane fields, and breadfruit trees. Then, after a short stopover in the cultural harbour town of Mindelo, we continue to the hiker’s paradise of Santo Antão. The second largest island of Cape Verde, Santo Antão offers endless spectacular mountain landscapes with occasional small settlements. For six days you will spend time with the friendly mountain people. No matter if you hike along the steep coast on mule trails, through tropical greenery past banana trees or mango and papaya trees … you will be thrilled by this island.
It is bookable throughout the year at the date of your choice!
All meals included are marked as follows:
B=Breakfast; PL=Packed Lunch; CB=Coffee break; L=Lunchtime; D=Dinner
Level of difficulty of the hikes:
1=Very easy 2=Easy; 3=Medium difficulty; 4=Advanced; 5=Guide required
Day 1: Arrival in Cape Verde
After arriving at Santiago airport, you will be transferred to your hotel, which is located on the plateau.
Services Included:
- transfer airport – accommodation
- ACCOM/DBL Hotel Santa Maria, Praia
(-/-/-)
Day 2: The Capital Praia
Along with your roadbook, you’ll explore the centre of Praia. At the plateau, you will discover historic buildings and a colonial-style square.
Services Included:
- Roadbook for the city walk
- ACCOM/DBL Hotel Santa Maria, Praia
(B/-/-)
Day 3: Arrival on São Nicolau
You will take a flight to São Nicolau. At the airport, you will be met by your driver. You will then be transferred to the island’s capital Ribeira Brava, a pleasant, family-run guesthouse. Here you can reach the centre within a few minutes’ walk.
Services Included:
- Transfer accommodation – airport (Santiago)
- Domestic flight Santiago – Sao Nicolau
- Transfer airport – accommodation (São Nicolau)
- ACCOM/DBL Residencial Jardim, Ribeira Brava
(B/-/-)
Day 4: Walk to Queimadas
Along with your guide, you will start your first hike today, which will take you from the island’s capital Ribeira Brava to Queimadas. You’ll be impressed by the green, agriculturally used Queimada Valley. Sugar cane plantations can be found as well as mango and breadfruit trees. You will reach the Queimada pass on serpentines and finally the town itself. After a picnic, you will make your way back to the island’s capital.
Services Included:
- Guided hike
- Lunch packet
- ACCOM/DBL Residencial Jardim, Ribeira Brava
(B/PL/-)
Day 5: From Fajã to Ribeira Prata
Start today with a transfer from Ribeira Brava to Canto de Fajã, where your second hike begins (luggage transfer to your next accommodation). Along with your guide, you will walk over a pass in serpentines down into the green valley of Fragata, in which you will repeatedly see the traditional thatched cottages and pass vegetable fields. The final destination of your hike is the village of Ribeira Prata, from where you will travel by car to Tarrafal, taking up your accommodation for the night. The family-run accommodation is directly on the shore road and is popular with hikers.
Services Included:
- Guided hike
- All transfers and luggage transfer
- Lunch packet
- ACCOM/DBL Casa Patio, Tarrafal
(B/PL/-)
Day 6: The Monte Gordo
Starting point for today’s hike is Cachaço. Along with your guide, you will climb Monte Gordo, the highest mountain on the island at 1,312 metres. Explore the nature park around the “Thick Mountain”, past dragon trees, and through the increasingly dense cloud forest to the top, where you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the island, as well as of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding islands (provided visibility is good.
Services Included:
- Guided hike
- Packed lunch
- All transfers
- ACCOM/DBL Casa Patio, Tarrafal
(B/PL/-)
Day 7: São Vicente – Arrival in Mindelo
Arrival at São Nicolau airport and flight to São Vicente. On arrival at the airport, your driver will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in the centre of the colonial port city of Mindelo. You can walk to all the important sights as well as to numerous restaurants and bars.
Services Included:
- Transfer accommodation – airport (São Nicolau)
- Flight São Nicolau – Sao Vicente (via Santiago)
- Transfer airport – accommodation (São Vicente)
- ACCOM/DBL Residencial Ché Guevara
(B/-/-)
Day 8: Mindelo – The cultural capital
You’ll be picked up from your hotel by your guide after breakfast. You will explore the colonial harbour town with its lively markets and historic squares together on foot. You’ll also get to know Mindelo from the cultural side: You will listen to stories from the life of Cesaria Evora and visit a museum dedicated to her.
Services Included:
- Guided city tour as described
- Entrance: museum / exhibition
- ACCOM/DBL Residencial Ché Guevara
(B/-/-)
Day 9: Santo Antão – from the plateau to the valley
You’ll take the ferry from São Vicente to Santo Antão and on arrival at the port you’ll be greeted by your guide. Along the old trade road from Porto Novo, you’ll drive up to Espongeiro, where you begin your first hike on this spectacular mountain island. Once on the plateau, you will set off on a grandiose descent with breathtaking views of the landscape again and again. You may get lucky and be offered goat cheese on the way, a typical product of the local area. You will spend the night in a family-run guesthouse in Coculi.
Services Included:
- Transfer accommodation – port (São Vicente)
- Ferry São Vicente – Santo Antão
- All transfers to Santo Antãov
- Guided hike
- Lunch pack and dinner
- ACCOM/DBL Casa Pedrina, Coculi
(B/PL/D)
Day 10: Hike to the village Chã de Igreja
With your main luggage, you will be taken to the accommodation where you will spend the night the following day. You will start off with your guide after breakfast and climb approx. 500 metres in altitude. Time and again you will enjoy the view of the mighty Ribeira Grande valley. After you have crossed the pass, you continue the hike on the old mule track and descend to the village of Mocho. Then continue to Chã der Igreja, where the next hospitable guesthouse awaits you (overnight stay without main luggage).
Services Included:
- Guided hike
- Lunch and dinner
- Transfer to starting point and luggage transfer to accommodation on the next day of travel
- ACCOM/DBL Casa Mité, Chã de Igreja
(B/L/D)
Day 11: Along the cliff coast
During the day, you will undertake one of the most spectacular hikes in the archipelago: along the bizarre cliffs, you will walk from Chã de Igreja to Ponta do Sol, enjoying the views of the Atlantic Ocean and the coast. Before reaching your destination, you will pass the picturesquely situated village of Fontainhas with its numerous small field terraces. Arrival in the pleasant fishing village of Ponta do Sol. Enjoy the beautiful view of the coastline from the guesthouse, which is only a few metres away from the small harbour.
Services Included:
- Guided hike
- Lunch pack
- ACCOM/DBL Guesthouse Casa d’ Mar, Ponta do Sol
(B/PL/-)
Day 12: In the green Paúl Valley
You will drive with your guide from Ponta do Sol to the greenest valley of Cape Verde, the Paúl Valley. On the next hike, you’ll pass through spectacular mountain scenery and tropical vegetation. Passing sugar cane and banana fields, you will discover mango and papaya trees. After these lovely hours, you will enjoy the national dish of Cape Verde, Cachupa, in the middle of the valley before heading to your accommodation.
Services Included:
- Guided hike
- Lunch
- Transfer
- ACCOM/DBL Guesthouse Aldeia Manga, Paúl Valley
(B/L/-)
Day 13: Day on leisure
Experience the intense time of the last few days and enjoy a day just the way you like it.
Services Included:
- ACCOM/DBL Guesthouse Aldeia Manga, Paúl Valley
(B/-/-)
Optional excursion: Canyoning
Are you in the mood for an extraordinary day? Then a canyoning adventure with breathtaking abseiling maneuvers in waterfalls awaits you! The landscape, tropical plants, the smell of sugar cane, water and rocks provide the perfect decor and it is right here where you will challenge your heart, overcome your weaknesses and create unforgettable moments.
Services included optional excursion:
- Guided excursion with a canyoning specialist
- Canyoning equipment
- Transfers
- Lunch
Day 14: In the southwest of Santo Antão / Back to Mindelo
Before saying goodbye to Santo Antão, let us show you the southwest of the island via an island tour. You’ll get to know a new side of Santo Antão: it rains only rarely in this area, yet bizarre mountain formations alternate with deep gorges and small, friendly villages. Sometimes one is reminded of lunar landscapes. Enjoy a traditional lunch on the way. Later in the afternoon, take the ferry from Porto Novo back to Mindelo, where you will check into the hotel you are already familiar with.
Services Included:
- Island tour in the southwest of Santo Antão (with driver)
- Lunch at Lagedos
- Ferry Santo Antão – Sao Vicente
- Transfer Port – accommodation (São Vicente)
- ACCOM/DBL Residencial Ché Guevara
(B/L/-)
Day 15: Back to Europe
Transfer to São Vicente airport and return flight to Europe.
Services Included:
- Transfer accommodation – airport (São Vicente)
(B/-/-)
Customer feedback
Here you can read the feedback of our travellers!
Who we are:
We have been organising trips to the Cape Verde Islands for more than 15 years with a German/Cape Verdean team of almost 20 people. Together with our drivers and guides, we work hand in hand on all nine inhabited islands of the archipelago. Looking forward to a trip organised by people who know the local area inside out and also have a lot of fun at work.
Customer feedback
Here you can read the feedback of our travellers!
What you can expect from us:
- Competent advice on planning your trip
- Consideration of your individual wishes when creating the travel offer
- Carefully selected accommodation and drivers
- Qualified English speaking guides
- Varied excursions
- Detailed travel documents
- A 24-hour service number on-site during your trip
What you can expect from us:
- Competent advice on planning your trip
- Consideration of your individual wishes when creating the travel offer
- Carefully selected accommodation and drivers
- Qualified English speaking guides
- Varied excursions
- Detailed travel documents
- A 24-hour service number on-site during your trip
Services Not Included:
- Airport tax (3,400 ECV or €31)
- International flights.
*You are welcome to book your international flights through us: With TAP Air Portugal, from an airport near you.
Prices valid until 30.04.2025
Price per person in a double room: 1,680 EUR
Price for single travellers in a single room: 2,700 EUR
Optional excursion: Canyoning: Price based on 2 people: 110 EUR / person
Changes and errors excepted.